Merthyr Tydfil

Merthyr Tydfil (Welsh: Merthyr Tudful) (often shortened to Merthyr) is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 13th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It was formerly in the historic county of Glamorgan. It is often referred to simply as 'Merthyr'. According to legend, the town is named for Sa... more

Merthyr Tydfil (Welsh: Merthyr Tudful) (often shortened to Merthyr) is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 13th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It was formerly in the historic county of Glamorgan. It is often referred to simply as 'Merthyr'. According to legend, the town is named for Saint Tydfil, a daughter of King Brychan of Brycheiniog. According to her legend she was slain at Merthyr by pagans around 480; the place was subsequently named Merthyr Tydfil in her honour. Although the usual meaning of the word merthyr (from the Latin martyrium) in modern Welsh is 'martyr', it is probable that the meaning here is "church (in memory of a saint or on his/her grave)." Similar examples, all from south Wales, include Merthyr Cynog, Merthyr Dyfan and Merthyr Mawr. The Cornish and Breton language equivalents, in place names, are... less